The Italophilia Podcast

Google can tell you train times, museum opening hours and the most popular restaurants in Florence. But it can't tell you whether you'd fall in love with Perugia more than Venice or why standing at a coffee bar might become one of your favourite memories. In this episode, I share why some of the best conversations I've had about Italy have happened away from search engines and why I&#3...

The Italy you'll remember most may not be the Italy you planned for. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I talk about the things nobody really tells you before your first trip -the slower pace of life, the joy of wandering without a plan, the small moments that stay with you, and why Italy stays with you! Related Episodes: Italy and the art of being alone My best encounters with Italia...

Beyond Rome, Florence, and Venice lies another Italy - one filled with elegant northern cities, Baroque southern gems, and hidden corners that stay with you long after you've left. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I share 5 places I would personally recommend for your next trip to Italy: Perugia, Trieste, Lecce, Modica, and Torino. These aren't necessarily the most famous desti...

A quick thank you to everyone who has supported The Italophilia Podcast. As the podcast approaches a special milestone, I'm taking a moment to ask a small favour. If you've enjoyed the show, please consider following the show and giving a rating and a review on Spotify , Amazon Music or Apple Podcasts ! Grazie, it means a lot! Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠...

On this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I talk about what it means to be an Italophile. (lover of all things Italian) This episode is dedicated to all Italy lovers! Support the show by buying my a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠⁠ Related Episodes: My Best Encounters with Strangers in Italy Why Do I Talk About Italy So Much Share your thought...

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I share about how I discovered the world of Andrea Camilleri's Montalbano books in Assisi and ended up doing my own little Montalbano tour in Sicily. This episode is about my love for the Sicilian characters over the years. More Episodes to Listen to: My Italian Journey Through Jhumpa Lahiri Authors Who Shaped How I Look at Italy Buy Montalbano book...

A reflection on how cinema shapes the way we see Italy, from La Grande Bellezza, The White Lotus and To Rome with Love, Call Me by Your Name and The Talented Mr. Ripley. This episode ends with a food for thought- do you think we are pre-influenced when it comes to Italy?? Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I reflect on the fear of speaking Italian, of being judged for your accent, navigating identity and learning to show up anyway. This is a personal take on what it really feels like to speak Italian as an Indian woman. Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠ Substack ⁠⁠ Check out these 15 Italian words that express what...

Sometimes life shifts not through big events, but through small decisions - like enrolling for a course and opening a textbook. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I share how studying Italian became one of the most defining choices of my life and how it shaped me and my career. Buy me a coffee ⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠ Check out ⁠ these 15 Italian words ⁠ that express what we often can't. Follow o...

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I reflect on the authors who shaped how I see Italy - from Tim Parks’ realism to Beppe Severgnini’s wit and Elena Ferrante’s emotional intensity. A quiet conversation about how literature deepens our relationship with a place beyond travel. Books mentioned: 1. On and Off the Rails from Milan to Palermo by Tim Parks 2. An Italian in Italy by Beppe Severgn...

A mindful reflection on letting go of comparison, finding your own pace, and standing fully in who you already are. This episode of The Italophilia Podcast is about growth and learning to shine more authentically by being yourself. Thanks for tuning in! If you love this no fluff unedited and raw Italophilia show and would like to support, please visit ⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and...

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I reflect on re-reading In Altre Parole by Jhumpa Lahiri and the unexpected moment when it made me cry. This is not a book review but my journey and meditation on the Italian language. At the heart of this episode is one haunting idea: to stay in dialogue, however imperfect, even when the language remains indifferent. If you love this no fluff unedited...

A small thank you to listeners of The Italophilia Podcast. This bonus episode is a personal story and reflection of one of my lowest phases and coincidentally also the phase when this podcast was born. Grazie for listening! If you love this podcast would like to support, please visit ⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠ Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠ ⁠⁠

Rome was the first Italian city I ever visited and the one that stayed with me. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast , I reflect on why Rome became my favourite Italian city, not as a tourist destination, but as a feeling. I also share how my first impression of Rome began long before I travelled, through cinema. This episode is a love letter to La Città Eterna- Roma. If you love this no flu...

When Italian food travels to India, it often becomes louder. More cheese. More sauces. More toppings. In this episode, I reflect on how cucina italiana changes when it enters an Indian context. From ketchup, oregano, and chilli flakes on pizza, to richer sauces and heavier portions, this episode explores why Indian palates respond differently to Italian food! If you love Italophilia, do consider s...

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I reflect on the Indian habit of over giving and the Italian comfort with saying no. Through my experiences as a seasoned traveler in Italy and as an Indian professional working with Italian clients, the reflection begins with Ferragosto , a mid-August holiday in Italy when cities slow down, offices close, and life pauses. Coming from India, where availa...

Italy is often called the most fashionable country in the world - but travelling through Italy teaches you that moda italiana is about much more than clothes. In this reflective episode, I talk about fashion in Italy beyond Milan and how being surrounded by effortless style can sometimes make you feel not enough. If you love Italophilia, please do consider supporting the show ⁠⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connec...

In this reflective episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I look back at my very first trip to Italy, moving quickly from North to South and share what time and distance have taught me since. From slowing down and staying longer in one place, to spending more intentionally on local Italian food -this episode is about learning to travel Italy more mindfully. If you’re planning your first Italy trip, r...

This is a bonus episode on Venice , a city I first visited in 2013, and one I’ve returned to with very different eyes. In this short episode, I share how my relationship with Venice has evolved over time and how I would travel again to the most serene city with a slower intentional pace. I reflect on why Venice asks you to slow down, why it needs to be seen at different times of the day, and how a...

Some of my strongest memories of Italy aren’t places - they’re people! In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I share these quiet and unexpected encounters with strangers that made Italy feel human, safe, and unforgettable. Thank you for tuning in! If you love the show, you can show your support here Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠

Solo travel in Italy isn’t always picture-perfect - the constant stares, the silence after 6 PM, the empty palazzi, the haunting beauty of small towns. In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I explore the real, layered experience of being alone in Italy as a woman, and how solitude really shaped me! If you love the podcast, I'd love your support here

Magari, piano piano, meraviglia....…This episode isn’t about learning Italian - it’s about the Italian words and feelings that changed me. These are words I truly love and I really hope you enjoy them too. If you love the podcast, I would be grateful if you support the show here For discussions, suggestions and feedback please write to info@ishitasood.com Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Subs...

What do Rome in Italy and Shimla in India have in common?? More than you think! Seven hills, old-world charm, political significance, walkable streets and a shared sense of nostalgia. In this reflective episode, I talk about two cities I dearly love, that feel unexpectedly alike! Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠

If you’re new here, this is a short introduction to what The Italophilia Podcast is about and the pace it moves at. Thank you for being here and for tuning in! You can support this unedited and raw show ⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠

In this episode of The Italophilia Podcast, I end the year with reflections about love, nostalgia and the complicated truth of belonging. Tune in now to listen about my experience! If you love Italophilia, please do consider supporting the show ⁠⁠⁠ here ⁠⁠⁠ Connect: info@ishitasood.com Follow on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠ Substack ⁠